Goals Against Average (GAA) Calculator (Hockey)

Calculator

Equation

In hockey, goals against average (GAA) is calculated as follows:
Goals Against Average = (goals against x game length) / minutes played.

Example

If a goalie has been in net for 637 minutes, has allowed 32 goals in that time, and regulation time for the league they play in is 60 minutes per game:

32 goals against times 60 minute game length is 1,920.

1,920 divided by 637 minutes played is 3.01.

Therefore, the goalie’s Goals Against Average (GAA) is 3.01

What is Goals Against Average?

Goals Against Average is a statistic in used in ice hockey (as well as field hockey, lacrosse, water polo, soccer (football) and other sports with a goalie) that is used to put a goalie’s number of goals allowed into perspective with their total playing time.
It is intended to give a measure of how many goals the goalie allows per unit of regulation game time.

It is considered one statics among a number of other ones, including win/loss ratio and save percentage that are used to help measure a goalie’s capability.

What counts as a “Goal Against”?

In hockey, a “goal against” is a goal that occurs while the goalie is assigned the position of the goalkeeper.

If the goalie is not on the field of play at the time when the goals happens, a goal against the team does not cont against the goalie’s GAA.

Rules for what qualifies as a goal can be found with the IIHF Rule Book (other leagues with alternative rules may have different scoring regulations).

What counts as a “Minute Played”?

Each minute that the goalie is an active player in a game is counted as a “minute played”.

What is “Game Length”?

Game length varies depending on the league.

Ice Hockey matches have a game length of 60 minutes (3 periods of 20 minutes). Recreational leagues may have shorter periods.